Kerala CM asks people to brace up for rain fury

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday asked the people in the State to gear themselves up in the wake of weathermen predicting heavy rain in the coming days.

Quoting them, he said a depression may form in the Bay of Bengal by July 21 and is likely to bring heavy monsoon showers.

Therefore, people should follow weather forecasts and the departments should make necessary arrangements to face the monsoon rain.

''Climate experts have informed us of a depression that is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal by July 21. Such depressions usually strengthen the monsoon in the State.

During the last few years, we received heavy rains due to such depressions,'' he said.

''We need to exercise caution in the coming days,'' he said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Kerala Disaster Management Authority are closely monitoring the situation, he said.

The IMD's prediction for the next five days is that there would be heavy rains and it asks fishermen not to venture into the sea till July 18.